Fig. 9.

Potential hepatic stellate cell transition patterns. a Star-type transitions could allow any functional state to shift its transcriptional profile into any other functional state. b A cyclic transition pattern, like the cell cycle, could allow for distributions of cells aiding hepatocyte regeneration or homeostatic renewal. Getting “stuck” in one phase of the cycle could lead to cell exit into apoptosis or pre-fibrotic phenotypes. c A cell fate commitment pattern would allow cells to transition only one way. In such a pattern, quiescent cells would have to be continuously replenished. Perhaps hepatic stem cells play a role in this replenishment